Far East circle trip
 

This isn't hard-and-fast advice being sought, but it isn't hypothetical either.

An acquaintance needs to make a trip Brussels-Sydney-Beijing-Brussels (or the other way round) in September. Business Class, a good price would be nice but that's not the paramount consideration. I don't know what schemes he's a member of.

Brussels does not have direct flights to either PEK or SYD so a transfer is required both ways. There is a daily Air China service PEK-SYD but it might be just as quick to make a transfer.

Any suggestions (+ or -)

Go Star Alliance the entire trip. As you mentioned the only direct flights are on the BJS BRU route and that too is not a non stop either.

Brussels- Frankfurt- Beijing on Lufthansa - Daily connections
Leaving arnd 3 PM from BRU reaching Beijing 0830 next day with a 80 min transit at Frankfurt

Beijing - Seoul - Sydney on Asiana - Daily ex Wednesday
Leaving around 4 PM and reaching 7 Am next day with a 90 min transit.

Wednesday also connection possible but add another three hour transit time

Sydney Vienna Brussels - Austrian (from SYD on Lauda Air a/c)
Daily except Tuesday - 1700 SYD and 0900 arr Vienna next day

Cant get much better than these . All flights non stop except the SYD VIE whch routes via Kualumpur.

Maybe a Round The World Ticket is in order.....
 

By routing back via the US, there should be savings to be had on the fare and not too much additional time. Also, the oppotunity to have a nice break on the way back. Route quickly back SYD-LAX/SFO-LHR-BRU on UA, with LHR-BRU on bmi.

Add more stops for extra points/miles.

Thanks for the heads-up on the Round-the-World.

Consequently saved wife's boss €500, gained her a load of brownie points and exposed the incompetence of their travel agency (which she's been trying to bring to his attention for a while).